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Ex-Israeli intelligence agents detail assault employing explosive tech gadgets against Hezbollah

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Ex-Israeli intelligence agents detail assault employing explosive tech gadgets against Hezbollah

WASHINGTON — Two former high-ranking Israeli intelligence officials disclosed significant information regarding a covert operation that had been in development for many years, aimed at targeting Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and Syria through the use of explosive devices disguised as pagers and walkie-talkies. This mission, which culminated three months ago, was reportedly instigated shortly after Hamas launched an assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, which ignited the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

In an interview with CBS “60 Minutes,” which aired recently, the agents chose to conceal their identities by wearing masks and using altered voices. One agent, identified as “Michael,” revealed that the groundwork for the operation began a decade earlier when Hezbollah unknowingly purchased walkie-talkies embedded with explosives from Israeli operatives posing as suppliers. These devices were set off in September, just a day after the initiation of the operation involving booby-trapped pagers.

“We created a pretend world,” Michael stated, highlighting the intricate planning involved. The second phase of this elaborate scheme commenced in 2022 when Israel’s Mossad discovered that Hezbollah was acquiring pagers from a company based in Taiwan. It was necessary to modify the pagers to create additional space for the explosives. Extensive testing was conducted to determine the precise quantity of explosives required to injure Hezbollah fighters while minimizing harm to others nearby.

According to the second former agent, who went by the name “Gabriel,” convincing senior officials at Mossad to greenlight the sale of the modified pagers took about two weeks. They marketed the pagers through deceptive advertisements on platforms like YouTube, emphasizing features such as being dustproof, waterproof, and long-lasting battery life. Gabriel outlined the use of shell companies, including one registered in Hungary, to mislead the Taiwanese manufacturer into unwittingly collaborating with Mossad. Hezbollah, unaware of its interactions with Israeli operatives, continued to source its equipment.

Gabriel likened the situation to a famous psychological film from 1998 in which the protagonist lives unknowingly in a fabricated reality. “When they are buying from us, they have zero clue that they are buying from the Mossad,” he remarked. “We make it all feel completely normal.” By September, Hezbollah possessed around 5,000 of these pagers, all of which were waiting to be activated.

The operational attack was initiated on September 17, causing pagers across Lebanon to emit distress signals. The explosives were triggered without the need for recipients to acknowledge any messages. The following day, when Mossad activated the walkie-talkies, scores of explosions resulted, including incidents at funerals, leading to the deaths of roughly 30 individuals during the pager detonations. Gabriel indicated that the operation’s objective transcended mere fatalities; it aimed to send a powerful message.

“If he’s just dead, so he’s dead. But if he’s wounded, you have to take him to the hospital, take care of him,” he explained. “Those individuals living with severe injuries stand as tangible reminders—‘don’t mess with us.’” In the subsequent days, the Israeli Air Force launched strikes against various locations in Lebanon, resulting in numerous casualties. In a dramatic turn of events, Hezbollah’s leader suffered an assassination attempt as Israel bombed his stronghold.

By November, a ceasefire was declared, bringing to an end the hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which had stemmed from the initial attack by Hamas militants. Reports indicate that the death toll of Palestinians in Gaza from the ensuing conflict exceeded 45,000. In response to the Pager incident, Michael noted that the atmosphere in Lebanon created a significant sense of fear, with citizens even afraid to use their air conditioning units, concerned they might trigger an explosion.

“Fear is very real,” he commented. When questioned whether this induced vulnerability was a part of the plan, he confirmed, “We want them to feel vulnerable, which they undeniably are.” He also indicated that there were no plans to use pagers again since that chapter had closed, leaving Hezbollah to speculate on Israel’s next moves.